It's 8 for the great Sébastien Ogier as he claims WRC crown one last time
Toyota's retiring star Sébastien Ogier scored an incredible 8th FIA World Rally Championship title with a peerless drive to victory in the final round of the championship at Rally Monza.
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Sébastien Ogier has never really been one to deal in millimetres, having spent much of his career a country mile ahead of his opposition. But at Rally Monza, fractions made all the difference when he clipped a concrete chicane. He was little more than a millimetre from disaster. In the blink of an eye, an eighth World Rally Championship dangled by a thread, before the Frenchman pulled it together and had the thing sewn up.
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Ogier lands eighth WRC title
Sébastien Ogier swept to his eighth FIA World Rally Championship title in nine seasons at Rally Monza.
The time's right
Arriving at the final round with a 17-point advantage over his Toyota team-mate Elfyn Evans, it was always going to be a long shot for the Welshman to eclipse a driver with seven titles under his belt already.
That wheel-meets-concrete moment on the first Sunday stage was the only moment for Ogier all weekend. Admittedly, it was a genuine moment; a degree or two more steering lock and things might have looked very different. That Monza chicane aside, the defending champion had the situation under complete control.
On the face of it, he was battling tooth and nail with Evans. The reality was entirely different.
One close moment for Ogier in Monza, but otherwise smooth driving to glory
© Jaanus Ree/Red Bull Content Pool
I was going to stop at the end of last year, but that wasn't right. Now it's the right time
"I've been doing my own thing," protested Ogier with a smile. "I've been telling you all the weekend, it looks like we fight, but, honestly, I focus completely on what I am doing. For me, the championship is what this week is all about. It's a special moment now.
"I was going to stop at the end of last year, but that wasn't right. With the pandemic and everything, it wasn’t the right time to stop after a strange season. Now it's the right time."
Delivering a great eight
Ogier's arrival at an eighth World Rally Championship title wasn't quite as straightforward as it looked. Yes, he held a 44-point lead coming out of the Acropolis Rally of Gods in Greece, but that baking Lamia-based event was also one of the difficult moments for the Frenchman.
"I was tired after Greece, Really tired," said Ogier. “I was lacking some motivation. I'd never really felt that in my career before. It was tough. I was just hoping the adrenaline and the pressure would bring the focus. It did."
As well as the fatigue after 13 years on the world rally campaign trail, Ogier's mid-season form faded as well. He won the Safari Rally when Thierry Neuville's Hyundai failed on the final morning, but struggled to put a result together for the next five events and didn't look like visiting the winners' circle through Estonia, Belgium, Greece, Finland and Spain.
Julien Ingrassia has been alongside Ogier during every one of his titles
© Jaanus Ree/Red Bull Content Pool
Quick to point to a focus on the championship rather than outright wins, Ogier looked wearisome as he explained the age-old frustration of the championship leader being forced to sweep the gravel roads clean and providing a faster line for his following rivals.
In short, he looked ready for the end. The fire burns as bright as ever, but the fuel is starting to run short.
The ability to dig deep is what marks the great from the good. Yes, Ogier might not have scored the most fastest times or led for as many stages as his junior team-mate Kalle Rovanperä (35 versus 37), but Monza delivered one more virtuoso performance.
Italy was the champ saving the best until last. He was pure class. Vintage Ogier. Italy was precisely what we're going to miss when he steps away from a full-time drive next season.
Farewells all around
Last week marked the moment the World Rally Championship waved goodbye to the World Rally Car – its top category for the last 25 years. And with Ogier concluding his full-time commitment to the series as well, there was no end of reflection in Monza on Sunday night.
But the most emotional farewell would be between Ogier and his co-driver Julien Ingrassia. They've been together forever – forever being the past 15 years. Every one of the 168 WRC starts Ogier has made, Ingrassia has been with him.
"Like you can imagine, the emotion is high," said Ogier. "When we started out together, we could never dream to achieve what we have. It's been incredible. We worked so hard together and when we crossed the finish line here the emotions really came."
Silver again for Evans
Rear-view mirrors are of little use to Elfyn Evans. He's simply not one for looking backwards. Asked how much last year's Monza disappointment (when he crashed his Yaris WRC while very firmly on course for a maiden world title) played on his mind ahead of last week, he shook his head.
Elfyn Evans chased Ogier to the line, but was 2nd again
© Jaanus Ree/Red Bull Content Pool
"You kick yourself at the time, but it's not something I've thought about at all," he said.
It's the same when it comes to the current campaign. Had he taken a line a millimetre or two to the left on an early Safari Rally corner, he wouldn't have found one of Africa's bigger boulders and he might not have retired. Had he got the car turned in through the final Croatian corner, he would have won the rally and left Zagreb with a 14-point swing in his favour. Then there was a gearbox glitch in Greece.
"The championship was finished after Greece. I wasn't thinking about it. It would have been nice to win here, but, if I have to admit defeat to a guy who's won eight world titles, then I have to admit that. He's one of the greats. Of course I'm disappointed, but next year is another year."
And with another year comes another opportunity for Evans to make the final step to the top of the season-long podium.
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